title: Reducing social inequities in health through settings-related interventions -- a conceptual framework.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The creation of supportive environments for health is a basic action principle of health promotion, and equity is a core value. A settings approach offers an opportunity to bridge these two, with its focus on the interplay between individual, environmental and social determinants of health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a scoping review of the literature on theoretical bases and practical applications of the settings approach. Interventions targeting social inequities in health through action on various settings were analyzed to establish what is done in health equity research and action as it relates to settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four elements emerged as central to an equity-focused settings approach: a focus on social determinants of health, addressing the needs of marginalized groups, effecting change in a setting's structure, and involving stakeholders. Each came with related challenges. To offer potential solutions to these challenges we developed a conceptual framework that integrates theoretical and methodological approaches, along with six core guiding principles, into a 'settings praxis'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing social inequities in health through the creation of supportive environments requires the application of the settings approach in an innovative way. The proposed conceptual framework can serve as a guide to do so, and help develop, implement and evaluate equity-focused settings-related interventions.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Canada. martine.shareck@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shareck
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Frohlich
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poland
mesh_terms: D019049:Developed Countries / Q000191:economics; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: health promotion; research; social inequities